Folding table



T. H. EULASS'.

FOLDING TABLE.

(Model.)

No. 362,825. Patented May 10, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

THOMAS H. EULASS, OF MASON CITY,- ILLINOIS.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 362,825, dated May 10, 1887.

Application filed May 29, 1886. Serial No. 203.590. (Model) To all whom, it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. EULASS, of Mason City, Mason county, Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in those tables, settces,camp-stools, &c.,in which aslab, board, or frame constituting the table-top or seat proper has'coupled to its under side a folding-trestle consisting of a pair of legs crossed and hinged together, capable of being secured in aposition which cansesit to hold the table or seat proper in condition for use, and also capable of being folded compactly against the under side of the table for convenient stowage, transportation, 850.

My invention relates particularly to that form of folding table or seat in which the ties tlc-legs are crossed and hinged together, and the top is adapted to occupy a position at the opposite side of the trestle to that to which it is linked when the structure is folded.

The object of my invention is to produce a table or seat in which the top and trestle can be folded more compactly together than heretofore, while the parts are not entirely disconnected from one another.

My improvement consists in the combination of a trestle having legs crossed and hinged together, and when folded having one leg occupying a position within the other leg, and when set up adapted to support the top, a top having side cleats for retaining the legs from opening too far, and coupling-links by which the top is connected to one of the legs, while permitting the removal of the top to a sufficient extent to admit of the folding of the legs of the trestle by unlocking the top from one leg and partly from the other leg, as hereinafter described.

My improvement consists, further, in combining with such structure as I have invented an outside thong or band for connecting the top loosely to the trestle-leg, to which the top is linked when the table or seat is set up, and when knocked down providing means for holding the upper side of the top closely against the trestle to keep them together, as hereinafter described.

My improvement consists, further, in a specific embodiment of my invention, as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a partly-sectional side elevation of my erected table or seat. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of 5 the same on the line 2 2. Fig. 8 is an under side view of the table or seat in its folded condition, looking from the opposite side to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows a modification of the means for coupling the trestle to the top. Fig. 5 shows a modification of my V-braoe.

A may represent a slab or board constituting the top. Permanently fastened to the under side of the board A, near and parallel to its ends, are two cleats, B B. Similarly fastened to said board, near and parallel to its sides, are two cleats, O O, beveled inward or undercut, as at c, and one of them, 0, somewhat shorter than the other, to enable the flat folding of the trestlelegs against the board in the folded condition of the article, as shown in Fig. 3.

D D constitute two legs of my folding trestle, jointed to one another at points of intersection by means of pivots e c, which constitute the ends of a V-formed brace, E, which at its 1nidlength is fastened to and operates to stiffen the leg D. The legs D D have their upper edges provided with strips d d, formed with acute angles, as shown.

F F are two links which serve to couple the upper part of the leg D to the cleats B B.

G is a hook,which, being secured to the cleat O by means of a pivot, {1, can be engaged in an eye or staple, H, on the strip d of the leg D, for locking the device to the form adapted for use.

The leg D may be loosely connected with the outside of cleat O by means of one or more thongs, J, of any suitable fabric, such as stout tape or leather, for holding the top and trestle together. My V-formed brace may be formed (as at E, Fig. 5) so as to terminate at the intersection of the trestle-legs, and have its ends punched or drilled to receive pivots, such as e in said figure.

When desired for use as a table I or seat, the beveled strips of the legs D D are inserted in the undercut recesses of the cleats O O, and the hook G being thenfengaged in eye H, the article of furniture takes the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

To reduce the article to the folded condition, it is merely necessary to disengage the hook G, to unlock the legs, and to close both legs To enable such flat folding of the article, the

cleat G is of such length as to leave'sutficient space between its ends and the sides of the cleats B B to admit the legs D and D. In this condition of the parts the flexible thong J serves to hold the trestle fiat against the top. Double hinges, such as represented at K, Fig. 4, may take the place of the links F F.

The links F F may be formed of wire, as in the present illustration, or maybe stamped out of sheet metal or cast in the form desired.

I am aware that thongs or bands have been substituted for links as a loose coupling between the top and one of the legs, so I do not claim thongs or bands, broadly, as a connection, but only claim such as applied in my invention to the outside of the table or seat for holding the parts together.

I claim herein as new and of my invention 1. The combination of the trestle having crossed legs D D, the V-shaped brace E, carrying pivotsee', secured to the strip at the top of one of the legs and by which the legs are hinged together, and a top linked or coupled to one of the legs, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the trestle-legs D D, hinged one within the other by pivots e e, the strips d d, secured to the tops of the legs, the top having side cleats, O O, and end cleats, B B, beneath the top, the links F, hinged to the outside leg, D, and to the end cleats, BB, and the band J, loosely connecting the outside leg to the cleat O, substantially as described.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS H. EULASS.

Attest:

E. T. CAREY, W. '1. CHENOWETH. 

